COURSE SYLLABUS

Course Title: Business Ethics Department: Business & Technology Curriculum: Business Administration Course Code: (eg. ACC 101) Course Type:
BBG*240 L/D Composition (ENG*101) or permission of Department Chair

Date submitted:

Jan. 2008
(08-16)

Prerequisites:

A: Clinical B: Lab D: Distance Learning I: Individual/Independent L: Lecture N: M: Seminar Internship P: Practicum U: Studio X: Combined Lecture/Lab Y: Combined Lecture/ Clinical/Lab Z: Combined Lecture/Studio

Course Descriptors:
Make certain that the course descriptors are consistent with college and Board of Trustees policies, and the current course numbering system.

Elective Type:

E: English FA: Fine Arts HI: History HU: Humanities LA: Liberal Arts FL: Foreign Language M: Math S: Science SS: Social Science G: General

Credit Hours: Developmental: (yes/no)

Lecture: Clinical: Lab: Studio Other: TOTAL:

3 No 3 0 0 0 0 3 35 F/S

Corequisites:

Contact Hours:

None

Other Requirements:
None

Class Maximum: Semesters Offered:

Ability-Based Education (ABE) Statement:

Tunxis faculty and staff have identified a set of specific abilities (skills and knowledge) that students should develop in a successful and well-rounded education. We believe that ten of these abilities, the general-education abilities, are necessary for all students to be successful at work, in future education, and as citizens. In most college-levels course at Tunxis, students will be assessed on at least one general-education ability as well as abilities that are specific to the course. Students in professional programs will also be assessed on abilities that are important to that profession. (In some externally accredited programs, general-education abilities may not be assessed in every course, but all abilities will be assessed by the time the student completes the program.) On some assignments, students will receive feedback on the degree to which they have mastered certain abilities. When this happens, students will receive a rating of 1 (Not Satisfactory), 2 (Satisfactory), or 3 (Distinguished) and an explanation for the rating. The goal will be to let students know where they stand at a specific time and what they need to do in order to improve in these abilities. We are convinced that development of these abilities, and the general-education abilities in particular, is critical to students' success in all aspects of life.

Catalog Course A critical examination (both practical and theoretical) of contemporary moral problems Description: in business such as employee rights and responsibilities, pay equity and comparable
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COURSE SYLLABUS page

worth, whistleblowing, trade secrets and confidentiality, conflict of interest, discrimination and sexual harassment, pollution, consumer protection, professional ethics, truth-telling in business dealings, social responsibility of business, and fiduciary responsibility to stockholders and stakeholders. It is recommended that students take at least six (6) credits in Business, Economics, Philosophy, or English prior to taking this course. A. ETHICS IN BUSINESS, ETHICAL THEORY, LOGIC & ARGUMENT 1. Introduction: importance of ethics to business and the economy; case study analysis 2. Definition of ethics: ethics v. etiquette, law, prudence; business ethics, political ethics, & professional ethics 3. Logic and argument: argument v. dispute; premises, conclusions, inferences; validity, soundness 4. General issues in ethical theory: universality v. ethical relativism; ethical and psychological egoism 5. Ethical theory: utilitarianism (Mill, Bentham); deontology (Kant; contractarians); ethics of virtue (Aristotle, Confucius) 6. Theories of Justice: property, profit and economic justice; morality of economic systems

Topical Outline:
List course content in outline format.

B. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF BUSINESS / ETHICAL PROBLEMS IN BUSINESS 7. Corporate v. individual responsibility; corporation as a moral agent; positive v. negative duties and philanthropy 8. Stakeholder theory 9. Regulation & accountability of business: self-regulation, market regulation, government regulation 10. Risk: product safety, workplace safety, investor risk; environmental safety 11. Truthtelling: advertising, disclosure; conflict of interest 12. Employee rights and responsibilities; at-will employee; whistleblowing; trade secrets; right to work; privacy 13. Discrimination: sexual harassment; pay equity & comparable worth 14. Information technology: intellectual property; confidentiality & privacy 15. International business and the multinational corporation Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to do the following: COURSE: Related to Critical Thinking Gen Ed outcomes 1. identify premises, conclusions, and inferences in an argument. 2. define deductive and non-deductive arguments 3. analyze the structure of arguments 4. evaluate the validity, soundness, and successfulness of arguments Related to Ethics Gen Ed outcomes 5. differentiate ethics from etiquette, prudence, and law 6. identify ethical issues in business situations 7. discuss issues of moral responsibility and justice in business 8. formulate ethical judgments about business problems 9. justify ethical judgments with well formulated logical arguments

Outcomes:
Describe measurable skills or knowledge that students should be able to demonstrate as evidence that they have mastered the course content.

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Business Ethics
10. 11.

COURSE SYLLABUS page

evaluate ethical judgments and arguments adjust ethical judgments and beliefs in response to critique

Related to specialized knowledge Program outcome #2 12. describe the major tenets of Kantian and Utilitarian moral philosophies 13. discuss the problems of egoism and relativism in ethical philosophy 14. compare deontological, teleological, and virtue ethics traditions in ethical philosophy Related to Integrate & apply knowledge Program outcome #3 15. apply the case study method to ethical problems in business PROGRAM: (Numbering reflects Program Outcomes as they appear in the college catalog) Business Administration Associate in Science Degree 2. demonstrate specialized knowledge necessary for success in management, such as managerial accounting, finance, statistics and business ethics 3. demonstrate the ability to integrate and apply knowledge and skills in solving realworld management and business problems GENERAL EDUCATION: (Numbering reflects General Education Outcomes as they appear in the
college catalog)

2. Critical Thinking - identifies and explains relationships, draws and justifies reasonable inferences and conclusions, and demonstrates evidence of insight through reflection 8. Citizenship, Values and Ethics 8.1 recognizes and appreciates the ethical dimensions of their own and others actions, values, and responsibilities 8.2 demonstrates ethical behavior in academic & co-curricular activities, and/or professional internships and practica

Evaluation:
List how the above outcomes will be assessed.

Assessment will be based on the following criteria: 1. tests 2. class presentations 3. case study analyses

Instructional Resources:
List library (e.g. books, journals, on-line resources), technological (e.g. Smartboard, software), and other resources (e.g. equipment, supplies, facilities) required and desired to teach this course.

Required: On-line reading materials, assignments, and lecture outlines and notes. TV /VCR Desired: None

Textbook(s) Refer to current academic year printout

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COURSE SYLLABUS page

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